Barebells Launches Protein Soda As Category Expands
Bar brand Barebells showed off its move into beverages with Protein Soda at last week's NACS show, as other brands also joined the fast-growing category.
Innovation
Featured Innovation Content
Modern Iced Tea Brands Look To Flavor, Packaging To Enter C-Stores
Emerging iced tea brands showed off convenience-oriented flavors and packaging innovations as they expand and modernize the c-store set.
South Africa’s Pura Makes Play for U.S. with Soda, Kids Drink Launches
As the soda category reshapes itself under the influence of new better-for-you brands, South African soda and kids beverage producer Pura is seeking a slice of the pie in America.
Additional Content
Expo West: MALK Expands Lineup, St. James Pivots Packaging, Jordan’s Skinny Mixes Moves to RTD
Our coverage of Natural Products Expo West 2025 kicks off this week with news from MALK, Saint James Tea and Jordan's Skinny Mixes.
Reviews: Spindrift SODA, S. Pellegrino CIAO!, Not Beer, Shonen
This week's roundup of new product reviews is all about bubbles, in the guise of modern sodas from Shonen and Spindrift, plus flavored sparkling waters from S. Pellegrino and Not Beer.
Spindrift Launches Better-For-You SODA Line
The SODA line is launching with five flavors, including a few that look to step off the beaten path of offerings by mainstream soda brands: Concord Freeze, Ginger Ale, Orange Cream Float, Shirley Temple and Strawberry Shortcake.
Reviews: Remedy Organics, Gaffle! Coffee, Daizy’s, Mate Party
In this roundup of new product reviews, we go tropical green with Remedy Organics, taste Ethiopian cold drip coffee from Gaffle! and get to know “social soda” from Daizy’s before…
GT’s at 30: Founder Dave Talks Maintaining Integrity with ‘Real Kombucha’ Refresh
Way back in 1995, 15-year-old GT Dave began brewing his first batch of kombucha in his childhood home. Flash forward 30 years, and what was once, for American consumers, an obscure, fermented Asian tea drink is now a multimillion dollar beverage category with a presence in just about every major retail channel across the United States.
Tru ‘Aligns Further’ With Polar Beverage On $4.6M Round
Functional drink Tru recently closed a $4.6 million funding round highlighted by further alignment with Polar Beverage who will now be handling manufacturing, distribution and warehousing for the brand.
New Products: PEEPS Milk, Perfy Pizza Soda and Paris Hilton Pods
This week’s new beverage launches include some innovative new soda flavors ranging from Mandarin Refresco to… Pepperoni Pizza? We also look at some co-branded partnerships involving PEEPS and Paris Hilton.
Gallery: New RTD Cocktails from Cutwater, Bartesian, Lightstrike, Sprinter
In our latest look at new RTD cocktail releases, Owl’s Brew invites comedian Chelsea Handler to spike its lemonade, Surfside goes green (with tea, that is) and Cutwater goes sweet on us with its Strawberry White Russian.
Absolut Extends RTDs, Ready-to-Serves with February Flavor Launches
Absolut is expanding both its ready-to-drink and ready-to-serve cocktail lines today, announcing several new flavor additions, including an expansion of its co-branded partnership with cranberry giant Ocean Spray.
Inside Suja’s Slice Reboot: “We Have a Strong Story On Why This is Different”
Hoping to tap into a ‘modern soda’ renaissance, Slice is once again in the market as Suja Life has reintroduced the classic CSD as a healthy, gut health boosting functional beverage.
Protein2O Seeks ‘Multi-Hyphenate’ Status with Brand Refresh
Functional beverage brand Protein2O is getting a fresh new look next month as it prepares to roll out a rebrand and reformulation across its product lines. The 12-year-old business will introduce its new label on February 1, designed by branding firm Safari Sundays.
2025 Trend Heat Map: Go Small to Win Big
What's in and what is on its way out for beverage in 2025? A panel of industry experts weighed in on what trends are hot, which are simmering and which ones are cooling off.
Anheuser-Busch, 1st Phorm to Partner for Energy Drink Line
Anheuser-Busch is still gunning for a share of the energy drink segment, announcing today a new partnership with sports nutrition business 1st Phorm to launch a RTD energy line.
‘The Other White Wine’: Arkansas Sake Maker Plots Future Growth
Arkansas-based Origami Sake is bringing craft sake to American drinkers by pairing its premium-positioned products with transparent packaging callouts, an NA variety and a new distribution partnership.